250985 - Rare Old African Zande mask - Congo.
€825.00
Antique African Zande mask from Northern Congo.
Size: 31 cm high.
This Zande mask is dated first half of the 20th century and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
Zanda masks from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are traditional works of art made by the Zanda people, an ethnic group that lives mainly in the Northern region of the DRC. These masks are important artistic expressions of Zande culture and spirituality.
Zande masks are characterized by their figurative aesthetic and distinctive artistic style. They are generally designed to be worn on the face during ceremonies and rituals. These masks depict stylized human figures with expressive facial features, such as eyes, noses and mouths.
The word azande means "the people who possess much land." This relates to their history as conquering warriors. The Zande migrated during the 18th century from Sudan to the northern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, settling on the banks of the Uele River. They live also in the Central African Republic and the Sudan. They occupy a region of savanna and forest and in common with the Mangbetu, Zande men hunt and fish while the women tend the fields. In political terms, this ethnic group of 750,000 people is ruled by a king with succession to the throne passing to his eldest son, while the younger ones govern the kingdom's provinces. The Zande have been ruled by different members of a single royal dynasty, the Avangara. Royal patronage was significant in the development and movement of art throughout this area. The political structure is counterbalanced by the mani secret association, created at the end of the 19th century.